Overview
Transport Canada Civil Aviation is the national aviation regulator. Foreign operations contacts include [email protected] and [email protected], with an after-hours channel through [email protected].
Regulator
Transport Canada Civil Aviation
Commercial requirements
- Foreign air operations are handled through Transport Canada channels.
- Economic authority for scheduled or non-scheduled international service licences sits with the Canadian Transportation Agency when traffic rights are in play.
- Where Canadian-registered aircraft are involved, Transport Canada may issue a Foreign Licence Validation Certificate (FLVC).
Non-citizen / visitor requirements
- Foreign operators should confirm whether CBSA arrival paperwork, including any General Declaration requirements, applies to the planned operation.
- Overflights and technical landings should be coordinated through Transport Canada's published foreign-operations channels.
Insurance
Status: Required by law
Canada publishes indexed minimum liability insurance amounts.
Published minimums
- Passenger liability: CAD 735,000 per passenger seat (effective 2026-07-01)
- Public liability: CAD 2.45M under 3,402 kg; CAD 4.9M from 3,402 kg to 8,165 kg, with additional scaling above that (effective 2026-07-01)
Important note
Operators should confirm the current indexed amount and effective date before flight.
Insurance certificate meeting Canadian minima
Operating rules
- CARs, AIP, and NOTAM govern flight rules and restrictions.
- Arrival and release procedures should follow CBSA and Transport Canada guidance.
- Airport-specific curfews or noise rules should be verified locally rather than assumed.
Enforcement / compliance risk
Transport Canada's public foreign-operations materials do not present a single consolidated fee schedule, so operators should confirm current charges directly with the authority before filing.
Regulator contact details
Transport Canada foreign air operations
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1-877-992-6853
Hours: After-hours channel available via [email protected]
Secondary contacts
- Overflights / technical landings: [email protected]